AITP Chicago
Official Cybersecurity Summit - 9-30-26, 10 AM - 3 PM Central Time
Discover New Tools and Solutions to
Protect Your Company from Cyberattacks
Register FREE with code: CSS26-AITP
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Click Here for More Information
Join the Identity Virtual Summit on September 30, 2026, a focused half-day virtual event from CyberRisk Alliance designed for cybersecurity, IT, and information security practitioners focused on strengthening identity security, scaling access controls, and protecting the modern enterprise.
As identity becomes both a critical enabler and potential weak link in modern security, organizations face growing challenges in maintaining least privilege across hybrid environments and third-party ecosystems. This eSummit explores how security teams can strengthen identity governance, detect compromised credentials and misuse earlier, and adopt adaptive access strategies to reduce identity-related risk.
Through expert keynotes and panel discussions, attendees will gain practical insights into scaling identity governance, automating identity lifecycle management, strengthening identity threat detection and response, and aligning identity security with broader risk and zero-trust strategies. Participants will also have the opportunity to engage with industry experts, explore innovative solutions, and earn valuable CPE or CEU credits with full attendance.
As organizations continue to adopt cloud services, third-party platforms, and increasingly complex digital infrastructures, security teams face growing challenges in discovering, assessing, and securing every internet-facing asset. This eSummit explores how organizations can move beyond point-in-time assessments and adopt continuous Attack Surface Management to identify unknown assets, prioritize risk, and proactively address exposure gaps.
Through expert keynotes and panel discussions, attendees will gain practical insights into continuous asset discovery, risk-based prioritization, integrating attack surface management with vulnerability and threat intelligence programs, and strengthening visibility across cloud, third-party, and hybrid environments. Participants will also have the opportunity to engage with industry experts, explore innovative solutions, and earn valuable CPE or CEU credits with full attendance.
AITP Chicago's PMO SIG invites you to a Virtual meeting and discussion
Date: October 6, 2026 Time: 5]6:00-7:00 PM
Location: Virtual Via Zoom
Topic: Tales from the SWAMP: Navigating the Murky Waters of Project Management
Get ready to experience project management through a unique lens of the mysterious and mystical Louisiana swamps! Just like a daring expedition into the unknown, project management often feels like wading through waist-deep mud, encountering unexpected obstacles at every turn. But fear not! By integrating the timeless structure of the Hero's Journey and the project management knowledge domains, we'll uncover how to emerge victorious from the depths of the swamp, armed with the tools to conquer any project- related challenge that lurks in the shadows. So, grab your virtual mosquito repellent and prepare to go on an unconventional and uproarious expedition! Together, we'll discover that with a dash of humor, a sprinkle of storytelling, and a whole lot of project management prowess, we can emerge from the swamp unscathed and ready to conquer any challenge that slithers our way!
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Click Here to Register to Receive a Zoom Meeting Link You must register by 2 PM on 10/6 to attend! The meeting link will be sent out the evening of 10/4 to all registrants, with a reminder sent the day of the event. If you have not received the link by the morning of 10/6, check your spam and promotion folders. If it is not there, send an email to paul.dittmann@aitpchicago.com and he will email you the link.
“Implied Permission – When you register for an AITP Chicago Zoom event you are giving us “Implied Permission” to send you emails. This is necessary so that we can use Constant Contact to send all registrants the Zoom link for the virtual meeting. This will also result in you being added to the mailing list for our Weekly Newsletter of upcoming events. Occasionally you will also be sent special event announcements. You will be able to “opt out” of these mailings at any time by clicking on the “unsubscribe” link on the bottom of the page.”
Presenter: Tanya Boyd
Information to Follow
Tanya Boyd is a dynamic project manager and creative strategist with 20+ years of experience across disaster recovery, healthcare, IT, marketing, and government. As Director of Creative Collaboration at Corbeau and Project Success Academy, she blends imagination, strategy, and storytelling to design bold programs and partnerships that drive measurable results. She also manages a team of PMI certification instructor who teach through PMI’s Authorized Training Program.
She also designed a 3-part, 7-hour self-paced course that covers the essentials of effective communication in projects.
A PMP® since 2014 and PMI-ACP® since 2020, Tanya previously served as President of the PMI Baton Rouge Chapter, where she gained a front-row view of the evolving challenges facing project leaders. She is also a co-author of Projectland Goes to the Movies, linking pop culture to modern leadership lessons and a contributor on the PURE Management Alliance team that created a 60-PDU video series.
She is an in-demand keynote speaker and has delivered high-energy sessions and workshops to 40+ PMI chapters, companies, and at PMI Global Summit.
Tanya believes curiosity and communication unlock creative solutions. Off the clock, she’s often kayaking Louisiana’s swamps, camera in hand, chasing the next wild idea while building her nature photography portfolio.
The CISO of the Year Committee and the Chicago Chapters of AITP, ChicagoFirst, InfraGard, ISSA, ISACA, CSA, PAABC, WiCyS and SIM are excited to welcome you to our 2026 CISO of the Year Award Breakfast!
The purpose of the CISO of the Year program is to recognize the top CISOs in the greater Chicago area and provide a higher level of awareness and recognition to the CISO (or equivalent in authority) position.
Join us for the culmination of the 2026 Awards Program on October 13th. The events are Private, intended to support CISO’s and their direct reports, 2024 CISO Nominees, the Program Judges, our CISO Program Sponsors and delegates from esteemed industry partners-AITP, Chicago FIRST, Infragard, ISSA, ISACA, CSA, PAABC, WiSys and SIM. (Limit of up to 2 Board Members from each Industry Partner per event without special approval).
Click Here for More Information on the Program
Click Here to Visit the New CISO of theYear Website
This is a great opportunity to to recognize the exceptional talent we have in the Chicago Region, to network with security professionals and to meet the candidates and judges for the 2026 CISO of the Year Program - and to congratulate the 2026 CISO of the Year Winners! Great Food and Drink Too!
Prior CISO of the Year Award Winners:
2025 - CISO of the Year, ENTERPRISE, Shefali Mooklencherry, CISO, UIC 2025 - CISO of the Year, MID-CAP, Nitin Raina, CISO, Thoughtworks
2024 - CISO of the Year, ENTERPRISE, Dan Manley, CISO, CME Group 2024 - CISO of the Year, MID-CAP, Angela Williams, CISO, UL
2023 - ENTERPRISE, Darin Hurd, CISO, Guaranteed Rate 2023 - MID-CAP, Neil Witek, CISO, Oak Street Health
2022 - ENTERPRISE, Mahmood Khan, SVP & CISO, CNA Insurance 2022 - MID-CAP, Walter Lefmann, Director of Security, Chicago Trading Corporation
2021 - CISO of the Year, Ricardo LaFosse, CISO, The Kraft Heinz Company
2020 - CISO of the Year, Paige Adams, Global Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) for the Zurich Insurance Company Ltd
2019 - CISO of the Year, Jill Rhodes, CISO, Option Care Health
2018 - CISO of the Year, Bradley Schaufenbuel, VP & Chief Information Security Officer, Paylocity
2017 - CISO of the Year, Erik Decker, Chief Security & Privacy Officer, University of Chicago Medicine
2016 - CISO of the Year, Todd Fitzgerald, CISO, Grant Thornton International Ltd
2015 - CISO of the Year, Kevin Novak, CISO and Technology Risk Officer for Northern Trust Bank
2014 - CISO of the Year, Arlan McMillan, CISO, Department of Innovation and Technology, City of Chicago
2013 - CISO of the Year, Jason Witty, SVP & CISO, US Bank.
Please Thank Our 2026 Program Sponsors:
AITP is proud to support CIO 100 Leadership Live Chicago, a one-day gathering built for CIOs and senior technology leaders navigating enterprise transformation, AI adoption, innovation and the evolving demands of technology leadership.
This is not another day of high-level theory. Attendees will hear directly from experienced technology executives about the decisions they are making, the challenges they are working through and the lessons they have learned leading transformation inside complex organizations.
The day opens with Real Talk: Stories from the Leadership Live Series, featuring candid insights from technology leaders including Annie Baymiller of Owens Corning, Chris Nardecchia of Rockwell Automation, Sastry Durvasula of TIAA, Bob McCowan, formerly of Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, and Deborah Youmans of MITRE.
Join Chicago’s technology leadership community on October 13.
Click Here to Register Through AITP
Click Here for Full Agenda
Criteria for Admission: In-person events are learning and networking opportunities for IT executives (i.e., C-level, VP and, director) from organizations with 250+ total employees. Attendees must be involved in the purchase, evaluation and recommendation of IT products/services; and/or have IT policy responsibility within their organization. All applications to attend are carefully reviewed. Registrants will be notified promptly should the status of their application change. Analysts, venture capitalists, sales, marketing or consulting staff from non-sponsoring technology or technology-related companies do not qualify to attend. All participants are subject to Foundry approval.
AITP Chicago Invites You to an Executive Panel on AI ROI
This is an exclusive event - all 4 panelists are from Teams that were finalists in the 2026 Most Effective Technology Team Awards. Hear from the best.
Topic: AI, Where's the Beef - where AI seems to be generating ROI above expectations and where it is falling short.
Event Host: Alden Hutchison, CYBER | Principal. RSM US LLP
Location: RSM US LLP, 30 South Wacker Drive, Chicago, IL 60606, 33rd Floor
Seating will be limited so only register if you will attend
Moderator: Lance Fortnow, Former Professor of Computer Science at IIT
Panelists:
Tom Cesario, Vice President of US Operations & IT, The Radio Flyer Company
KD Mohanty, Sr. Vice President, Chief Technology Officer, Sargent & Lundy
Lee Roberson, Director of Technology, DePaul University
Brent Maher, Vice President of information Technology, First Student
Event Agenda: 5:30-8:00 PM
5:30 - 6:00 PM, Registration and Networking
6:00 - 7:00 PM, Panel Discussion "AI, Where's the Beef (ROI)"
7:00 - 8:00 PM, Pizza and Networking
BIOs:
Lance Fortnow is a computer scientist specializing in computational complexity, most recently developing a theory to understand why AI works as well as it does. He was a professor in Computer Science at the Illinois Institute of Technology, where he served as the founding dean of the College of Computing from 2019 to 2025.
Before joining Illinois Tech, he was chair of the School of Computer Science at the Georgia Institute of Technology and previously a professor at Northwestern University and the University of Chicago following a PhD in Applied Mathematics from MIT. He was a
Fulbright Scholar to the Netherlands in 1996-97 and a visiting fellow at Magdalen College, Oxford, in Hilary Term 2026.
Fortnow founded and co-authors the Computational Complexity weblog, the first major theoretical computer science blog, which has run continuously since 2002, and wrote a popular science book, The Golden Ticket: P, NP and the Search for the Impossible.
Tom Cesario joined Radio Flyer in 2008. Home of the iconic Little Red Wagon, Radio Flyer has been creating tricycles and other ride-on toys for generations. As Vice President of U.S. Operations & IT, Tom develops and leads the company’s technology and operations strategy, with responsibility for IT, domestic operations, and customer service. He is also a member of Radio Flyer’s Executive Leadership Team. During his tenure, Tom has led significant business and technology transformations spanning ERP, cloud computing, eCommerce, data and analytics, warehouse technology, and digital customer engagement. More recently, he has focused on advancing the practical application of artificial intelligence across the organization to improve productivity, decision-making, and the customer experience. Tom is particularly interested in moving AI beyond experimentation and embedding it into everyday business processes where it can deliver measurable value.
Brent Maher is Vice President of Information Technology at First Student, where he leads enterprise IT strategy, cybersecurity, and technology operations supporting one of North America’s largest student transportation providers. Maher brings more than two decades of experience in technology leadership, with deep expertise in cybersecurity, infrastructure, and digital transformation. Prior to joining First Student, he spent over 15 years at Johnson Financial Group, where he held multiple executive roles including Chief Technology Officer and Chief Information Security Officer. In those roles, he built and scaled enterprise security programs, modernized IT operations, and led strategic technology initiatives across the organization.
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